IGOR STRAVINSKY
Firebird: Works By Stravinsky BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer (conductor) [ Signum / CD - released 27/Jul/2009 ] The music commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for his Ballet Russes has generated some of the most inventive and popular orchestral works of the 20th Century. Led by Principal Conductor Thierry Fischer, these recordings capture the excitement and... |
RUTH GIPPS
Gipps: Symphonies Nos 2 & 4, etc BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Rumon Gamba [ Chandos / CD - released 14/Sep/2018 ] "[Knight in Armour], and the single-movement Second Symphony, from 1945, are clearly both indebted to Gipps's teacher Vaughan Williams, while the Fourth, from 1972, seems to belong securely and less distinctively in the mainstream of mid-century cons |
STRAVINSKY / POULENC
Rite of Spring / Les Biches BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Thierry Fischer [ Signum Records / CD - released 10/Feb/2012 ] "Helped by state-of-the-art sound, Fischer's refinement speaks volumes in the Rite's quieter passages, where the string clusters and gurgling woodwind have a lucid beauty that contrasts finely with the weight of the rest...The real treat, though, is... |
GLAZUNOV
Symphonies 4 & 8 BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Oct/2003 ] "Strongly characterized and distinctively Russian themes … beautifully and sensitively played … what a fine orchestra this is. There could be no better introduction to Glazunov's symphonic world" (Classical Music Web) |
GLAZUNOV
Symphonies (Complete at a budget price) BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS / 5 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2007 ] "The BBC NOW performances are spruce and sympathetic, avoiding special pleading but at the same time far more subtle than routine run-throughs. High standards of recording and booklet presentation continue to be a strong selling-point for this... |
GLAZUNOV
Symphonies Nos 5 & 7 BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS / CD - released 13/Jul/2004 ] "The BBC NOW performances are spruce and sympathetic, avoiding special pleading but at the same time far more subtle than routine run-throughs. High standards of recording and booklet presentation continue to be a strong selling-point for this... |
GLAZUNOV
Symphony No 3 / Ballade in F major BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka [ BIS / CD - released 1/Nov/2002 ] "A splendidly vital and sensitive account" - International Record Review |
GUTO PRYDERI PUW
Reservoirs: Orchestral Works by Guto Pryderi Puw BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Jac van Steen [ Signum / CD - released 16/Aug/2014 ] " Presented with great clarity by the orchestra under Jac van Steen, they show Puw revelling in the opportunity to write challengingly for such a proficient band, though at times that enthusiasm does get the better of him...[Reservoirs] is the most i |
DAVID MATTHEWS
Symphonies Nos 2 & 6 BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Jac Van Steen (conductor) [ Dutton Epoch / CD - released 20/Apr/2010 ] BBC Music Award Winner 2011 - premiere recording of the year |
GEORGE BUTTERWORTH
Orchestral Works [Incls 'The Banks of Green Willow'] BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Kriss Russman, James Rutherford (baritone) [ BIS SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 13/May/2016 ] When George Butterworth joined the army in 1914, his most recent works included the song cycle Six Songs from 'A Shropshire Lad' as well as the Rhapsody 'A Shropshire Lad', which he called 'an orchestral epilogue' to his settings of A. E. Housman's... |
DAVID MATTHEWS
Symphonies Nos 1, 3 & 5 BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Martyn Brabbins [ Dutton Epoch / CD - released 20/Jul/2007 ] "Producer Michael Ponder and engineer Dexter Newman have achieved spectacular sonics. This is another CD not to miss!" (ClassicalCDReview) |
SAINT-SAENS / BLACKFORD / KRAUSE
The Great Animal Orchestra / Carnival of the Animals (in a new Orchestration) BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Martyn Brabbins (conductor) [ Nimbus Alliance / CD - released 21/Aug/2015 ] The Great Animal Orchestra, Symphony for Orchestra and Wild Soundscapes by English composer Richard Blackford and wild soundscape recordist Bernie Krause combines the sounds of the natural world with the traditional sounds of the orchestra.... |
RUPERT BAWDEN
The Sailor's Tale: Two Studies The Donkey Dances BBC National Orchestra Of Wales / Nash Ensemble / Rupert Bawden [ NMC / CD - released 25/Mar/2008 ] "A well produced CD and a good introduction to an appealing, quirky composer." Musical Pointers, 2004 |
FRANK BRIDGE
Orchestral Works, Volume 1 (Includes Mid of the Night & Two Poems for Orchestra) BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Richard Hickox [ Chandos / CD - released 30/Oct/2001 ] ***** Five Stars (Pick of the Month) BBC Music Magazine (Jan 2002) |
FRANK BRIDGE
Orchestral Works, Volume 2 (Incl Norse Legend) BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Richard Hickox [ Chandos Classics / CD - released 10/May/2004 ] Performance **** Sound Quality **** BBC Music Magazine |
KENNETH LEIGHTON
Orchestral works Vol 1 (Incls 'Symphony for Strings, Op. 3') BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos / CD - released 1/Jun/2008 ] 'John Scott is a first-rate soloist in this taxing work and Richard Hickox directs superbly paced and eloquent performances of this fine music.' BBC Music Magazine (five stars) |
ELGAR
Symphony No. 1 Op. 55 / Sonata for Organ, Op. 28 BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Jun/2007 ] "Hickox and his players do Elgar proud on a spectacular disc. Richard Hickox is back on sovereign form for Elgar. The BBC Welsh forces are world-class here, in a reading that pulses along with clarity and splendour, building to a gloriously... |
ELGAR
Symphony No. 2 / In the South BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Richard Hickox [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Aug/2005 ] 'Critical comment on the recording of the Second Symphony: Elgar's Second Symphony blossoms in the hands of Richard Hickox and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.' Classic FM Magazine 'Disc of the month' |
ELGAR
Symphony No. 3 / So Many True Princesses Who Have Gone / etc BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Richard Hickox [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Nov/2007 ] 'I'm more favourably inclined towards this magnificent SACD release because it seems to lay out its typical Elgarian indirectness in a more logical and easily discerned way..No serious Elgarian should even think of passing it by.' American Record Guide |
TIPPETT
The Rose Lake / Ritual Dances BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Richard Hickox (conductor) [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 18/Oct/2005 ] To coincide with the centenary year of Tippett's birth, and following on from his highly successful recordings of the symphonies and other orchestral works, Richard Hickox has recorded two of the composer's most famous orchestral works, The Rose Lake... |